The vast land of Shenzhou is filled with endless wonders, where spiritual mountains and beautiful waters compete in splendor.
In the southwest of Shenzhou, the mountains stretch endlessly, with the Shu region being the most abundant in spiritual energy.
The path of immortality thrives in western Shu, where temples and monasteries number in the hundreds.
Every year, devout men and women travel thousands of miles to pay homage to these sacred mountains.
The towering peaks and layered ridges, along with the breathtaking scenery, attract countless visitors who come solely for the beauty of the landscape.
Beyond these famous mountains lies a hidden realm, often referred to as the blessed land of caves and heavens.
The scenery here is particularly mysterious and magnificent, inaccessible to ordinary mortals, reserved only for those enlightened beings who enjoy the tranquility of these spiritual mountains.
Among these immortal realms, Mount Emei stands out as a renowned sacred site in Shu.
It is said that the landscapes of western Shu are extraordinary, and Mount Emei is the most exceptional of them all.
This saying holds true.
The mountain, with its clouds resembling emerald hairpins and its distant peaks like painted eyebrows, is as delicate and beautiful as the brows of a graceful woman.
Hence, it is named Mount Emei.
Such a sacred mountain naturally has a prestigious sect residing within it—the Emei Sect.
The Emei Sect has strict rules.
First-stage cultivators must attend morning classes daily.
Those who enter deep meditation or seclusion must report to the teaching elder before or after their practice.
At the end of each month, there is a comprehensive exam.
Those who fail or rank low will inevitably face punishment.
However, the teaching elders are human too.
If you attend morning classes diligently every day, even if your monthly exam results are poor, they will often show leniency.
But this rule and leniency do not apply to those with exceptional talent and brilliance.
Take Li Yingqiong, a rising star who recently joined the sect.
Since her arrival, no one has seen her attend morning classes more than a few times.
But today was different.
Everyone saw Li Yingqiong at the morning class.
This young girl, only thirteen or fourteen years old, lived up to her name.
She was as beautiful as jade, with a striking and heroic aura.
Li Yingqiong wore a white, form-fitting outfit, and her fair complexion was accentuated by the clothing, making her appear even more radiant.
Despite her delicate appearance, she had a natural red mole between her eyebrows, giving her a sharp and fierce demeanor, with a hint of杀气 in her gaze.
Li Yingqiong quickly entered the Hall of Reflection, where many people had already gathered.
The front rows were full, and while there were empty seats in the back, she chose to stand at the front, straight as a newly sharpened sword.
"Junior Sister, please take my seat!"
A Taoist next to Li Yingqiong, unable to withstand her sharp presence, offered his seat.
"Thank you, Senior Brother."
Li Yingqiong did not hesitate or even look at the person who offered the seat.
She coldly thanked him and sat down.
The man quickly moved to the back, muttering that it was no trouble.
As Li Yingqiong sat, she noticed a woman beside her and her expression softened, like snow melting on a mountain peak, revealing a blooming snow lotus.
"Senior Sister Zhou, you're here too!"
The woman Li Yingqiong was fond of, Senior Sister Zhou, appeared to be around fifteen or sixteen years old.
She wore a light yellow robe, with her waist-length hair tied back with a red ribbon.
She looked like a spring flower basking in the sun.
The woman in yellow smiled and nodded at Li Yingqiong.
"Not just Senior Sister Zhou, but Senior Brother Yan, Zhuge, and I are all here too!"
Another voice chimed in.
Li Yingqiong turned to see her close friend, Yu Yingnan, also present.
As Li Yingqiong scanned the hall, she noticed Senior Brother Yan Renying and Jing Rui were also there.
What was going on?
Li Yingqiong pondered.
Normally, these individuals, who were advancing rapidly in their cultivation, were deeply engrossed in their studies.
It was rare for them to gather like this.
As for attending morning classes daily, apart from Senior Sister Zhou Qingyun and Senior Brother Yan Renying, no one else, including herself, managed to do so regularly.
Today, she had been summoned by the teaching elder, and it seemed the others had been as well.
Li Yingqiong's guess was correct.
After the teaching elder finished the day's lesson, he dismissed everyone but kept Li Yingqiong, Yu Yingnan, Yan Renying, Zhou Qingyun, and Zhuge Jingrui behind.
The group wondered what the elder intended.
They didn't have to wait long.
The teaching elder straightforwardly explained:
"The sect leader wishes to see you."
The group was startled.
At the back of Mount Emei, within the secret realm of Ningbi Cliff, stood the Tianbo Wall.
The Tianbo Wall was a naturally formed piece of high-quality spiritual jade, with spiritual light flowing across its surface like rippling water.
The five stood obediently before the Tianbo Wall, not daring to move, even the usually wild and unrestrained Li Yingqiong and Yu Yingnan remained still.
Fortunately, they didn't have to wait long.
A flash of light appeared before the Tianbo Wall, and two figures materialized out of thin air.
The man on the left wore a moon-white robe, exuding an aura of supreme elegance.
He was handsome and relaxed, with a smile on his lips.
In his arms, he cradled an infant.
The woman on the right wore a bright yellow dress, her figure full and graceful, exuding nobility and grace.
She also held an infant in her arms.
"Greetings, Sect Leader, Greetings, Sect Leader's Wife."
The five young disciples bowed in respect.
The man was the leader of the Emei Sect and the head of the Xuanmen in western Shu, the Righteous Qi Miaoyi Zhenren Qi Sumiao.
The woman beside him was his wife, Miaoyi Furen Xun Lanyin.
The infants in their arms were their one-year-old twins, Qi Lingyun and Qi Jinchan.
"No need for formalities, please rise."
Miaoyi Furen said with a smile.
The group stood up straight.
Miaoyi Zhenren looked at the young faces before him and sighed with a smile, "Time flies. Lingyun and Jinchan are already a year old. You've been at Emei for quite some time now, haven't you?"
The five nodded in agreement.
"Renying, you're the oldest among the five, only nineteen. Five years ago, the Drunken Sword Daoist brought you to Emei. In these five years, have you been treated unfairly?"
Miaoyi Zhenren asked one of the young men.
The young man, dressed in white, stood tall and handsome, with thick eyebrows and bright eyes.
He had an honest and kind appearance.
Yan Renying stepped forward nervously, "Since coming to Emei, the elders have treated me like their own, and my fellow disciples have been kind and close to me. I have not been treated unfairly in the slightest."
Miaoyi Zhenren nodded and said, "Good."
He then asked:
"Qingyun, you're seventeen, the oldest among the girls. Last year, Master Canxia brought you here. In this past year, have you been treated unfairly?"
The woman in yellow, Zhou Qingyun, stepped forward.
Her voice was soft but firm, "Although I haven't been at Emei for long, I have been deeply cared for by the elders and fellow disciples. Whether in life or cultivation, I have never been treated unfairly. I am truly grateful."
"Good child."
Miaoyi Zhenren smiled and nodded, then asked:
"Yingnan, you're fifteen. Three years ago, Abbess Guanghui brought you here. In these three years, have you been treated unfairly?"
Yu Yingnan stepped forward.
The girl stood tall and straight, showing no sign of nervousness or fear, and said loudly, "Sect Leader, Emei feels like home to me. Everyone has treated me well, and I have not been treated unfairly."
Miaoyi Zhenren laughed heartily and pointed at Yu Yingnan, "What a pure heart!"
Then, Miaoyi Zhenren looked at another boy and asked:
"Jingrui, you're only ten, the youngest among you. Two years ago, when you were just eight, Elder Xuanzhenzi brought you to Emei. In these two years, have you been treated unfairly?"
Zhuge Jingrui was still a child, with a round face and a bit of baby fat.
He spoke earnestly, "Sect Leader, everyone has treated me well. Jingrui has not been treated unfairly."
Miaoyi Zhenren reached out and patted Jingrui's round head.
Finally, he looked at Li Yingqiong.
"Yingqiong, you're fourteen. Originally the daughter of a wandering hero, you encountered zombies while traveling the martial world and nearly lost your life. My wife happened to meet you on the road, saved you, and brought you to Emei. It's been three years now. In these three years, have you been treated unfairly?"
Li Yingqiong's face was cold, but her temper was fiery.
Tears welled up in her eyes as she said hoarsely:
"Madam, you have given me a second life. If not for you, I would have been a pile of bones in the forest. How could I have the life I have now? Whatever the Sect Leader and Madam command, whatever the sect needs, Yingqiong will not hesitate to give her life. How could there be any unfairness?!"
"Good! Good! Good!"
Miaoyi Zhenren said "good" three times, his gaze sweeping over the five faces.
"You are all good children!"
"Today, I called you here for a reason."
The five bowed in unison, "We await the Sect Leader's command."
Miaoyi Zhenren exchanged a glance with his wife and said, "Today, as the leader of the Emei Sect, I wish to take you all as my true disciples. Are you willing?"
The five were stunned, their eyes filled with disbelief.
Li Yingqiong reacted the fastest and most decisively.
The young girl knelt down with a thud, kowtowed, and said tearfully:
"Disciple Yingqiong pays respects to Master."
The other four were slightly flustered.
Seeing Li Yingqiong kneel, they became even more unsure.
The second to kneel and kowtow was Zhuge Jingrui.
After a few breaths, Yu Yingnan and Yan Renying knelt almost simultaneously.
As soon as they knelt, Zhou Qingyun quickly followed suit.
Miaoyi Zhenren stroked his beard and smiled, helping each of them up.
"From now on, you will be ranked by age. Renying will be the eldest senior brother, Qingyun the eldest senior sister, Yingnan the second senior sister, Yingqiong the third senior sister, Jingrui the second senior brother, Lingyun the youngest senior sister, and Jinchan the youngest junior brother. From now on, the seven of you must work together to bring glory to Emei."
The five looked at the squirming infants in the arms of the sect leader and his wife and said in unison:
"We will work together to bring glory to Emei!"
Miaoyi Zhenren smiled with satisfaction and said, "Today, I have gained excellent disciples, and I must reward you."
With a wave of his sleeve, the Tianbo Wall shimmered with spiritual light.
The group saw the wall ripple like water, and something seemed to rise from within.
In an instant, seven glowing treasures appeared on the Tianbo Wall.
Upon closer inspection, they were seven swords!
"Before my master, the Longbrow Zhenren, ascended, he gathered the essence of the five elements and forged seven flying swords in the shapes of seven true forms. These swords have been hidden within the Tianbo Wall, absorbing the spiritual energy of heaven and earth and the essence of the sun and moon for over two hundred years. They have been purified and refined."
The seven swords are collectively known as the Seven Swords of Mount Shu, each representing a different form: dragon, snake, toad, turtle, rooster, rabbit, and centipede.
Each sword has its own unique form and is specially designed to counter the five poisons of heterodox sects.
They are the treasures of Emei, and when combined, their power is even greater.
"The seven swords are named: 'Golden Alligator' for the dragon, 'Water Mother' for the toad, 'Peach Capital' for the rooster, 'Moon Spirit' for the rabbit, 'Red Su' for the centipede, 'Black Tortoise' for the turtle, and 'Green Mouth' for the snake. There are exactly seven of you, and this is fate. Each of you, choose a sword!"
Miaoyi Zhenren and his wife set down Qi Lingyun and Qi Jinchan.
The two infants, seeing the glowing treasures on the wall, giggled and reached out to grab them.
"The quality of the seven swords is equal. Choose based on your heart."
Miaoyi Zhenren reminded them.
Li Yingqiong stepped forward first, reaching for the 'Golden Alligator.' However, the sword transformed into a golden dragon, flicking its tail and slipping from her grasp.
Li Yingqiong was surprised but tried again.
After four or five attempts, she still couldn't catch the agile dragon.
Li Yingqiong gave up and reached for the vermilion 'Peach Capital.'
"Sss!"
Li Yingqiong quickly withdrew her hand, seeing a bloody wound on her palm.
But Li Yingqiong's stubbornness kicked in.
She was determined to take the 'Peach Capital.' As her hand gripped the hilt, white smoke rose from the contact.
The girl's arm trembled with pain, but she gritted her teeth and refused to let go, forcefully pulling the 'Peach Capital' from the Tianbo Wall.
Her right hand was now a bloody mess.
"Yingqiong! The 'Peach Capital' is fierce and yang in nature. As a woman, forcing it will harm your body!"
Miaoyi Zhenren, seeing Li Yingqiong's condition, couldn't help but advise.
But Li Yingqiong clenched her teeth and insisted, "The sword may be fierce, but I am fiercer. Though I am a woman, I can still tame this sword!"
Miaoyi Zhenren watched as Li Yingqiong's blood dripped down the sword's blade and said nothing more.
Meanwhile, the infant Qi Jinchan, seeing the golden dragon swimming within the Tianbo Wall, found it fascinating.
He reached out and, with a simple gesture, caught the dragon, pulling out a gleaming sword.
With two swords claimed, the others no longer hesitated and reached into the Tianbo Wall.
It was a mutual selection between the swords and the disciples.
After several attempts and exchanges, the final assignments were:
Yan Renying obtained the 'Black Tortoise.'
Zhou Qingyun took the 'Moon Spirit.'
Yu Yingnan received the 'Green Mouth.'
Zhuge Jingrui got the 'Red Su.'
Qi Lingyun claimed the 'Water Mother.'
"Now that the seven swords have found their masters, it is time for Emei to rise. You have obtained these swords, and you must cultivate diligently. Do not disgrace the names of these flying swords!"
Miaoyi Zhenren encouraged them.
"We will follow the Master's command!"
"Yingqiong, you come from a background of wandering heroes and have a chivalrous spirit. You should not stay in the deep mountains for long. Once you have refined your sword, go out and travel the world."
Finally, Miaoyi Zhenren specifically instructed Li Yingqiong.
The girl naturally bowed in obedience.
As the five prepared to leave, Miaoyi Furen, who had been mostly silent, said to her husband:
"Husband, back when the White Brow Ancestor ascended, you asked for a prophecy to find the method for Emei's rise and the next sect leader. You received the words 'Three Heroes, Two Clouds, Luo Monk, Shu Marquis.' Now, these seven children have been found."
Miaoyi Zhenren let out a long breath, his expression complex.
"Yes, they have finally been found."
The difficulties involved were known only to the leader of the Xuanmen himself.
New book presented.
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(End of Chapter)